Framework for managing an optical communication network

ABSTRACT

A framework for managing a communication network is described. Network elements and/or test devices as well as a physical layer management system is provided. The network elements and/or the test devices are coupled with the physical layer management system via a generic and standardized first interface. The physical layer management system and a logical management layer are coupled via a generic and standardized second interface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the management of a communication network.

It is known to manage the transmission equipment of a network, i.e. thenetwork elements of the communication network with a network managementsystem which views these network elements at the logical layer of thenetwork. This logical management layer is adapted to those kind ofnetwork elements which are present in the communication network. It maybe adapted to the network elements of a specific company or may supportthe management of the network elements from multiple vendors. Thelogical management layer does not concern itself with the physicalattributes of the network. For example, it may know that two networkelements exist in the communication network. It may also be capable ofprocessing information coming from these network elements. It may alsoknow that these two network elements are interconnected somehow sincethey are able to communicate. However, it will not know exactly howthese network elements are interconnected, e.g. using fibers, cables orthe like. It will also not know whether or not there are test devicesattached to the connection between these network elements. It will alsonot know where the network elements are geographically located.

It is also known to influence the test devices and other physicalcomponents like fibers, cables and other physical network inventory ofthe communication network with a physical layer management system. Forthat purpose, the physical layer management system concerns itself withthe management of all physical attributes of the communication networksuch as network inventory, physical connectivity of cables, geographicdata, physical transmission signals, optical wavelengths and so on.

OBJECT AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improvedmanagement of a communication network.

This object is solved by the subject matters of the independent claims.

The invention provides a framework for managing a communication networkwhich allows the management of both, the network elements at the logicallayer of the network and the test devices and physical components at thephysical layer of the communication network. This has the advantage thatinformation pertaining to both the physical and the logical layers ofthe network are available to the users of the network management systemsimultaneously.

In the prior art, networks were managed at the logical layer sincelogical layer information was the only information relevant for themanagement of the network. As networks evolve, the physicalcharacteristics of the network become more and more important. Forexample, if used properly, information about the physicalcharacteristics of the network can be used to increase the amount ofdata which can be transmitted between two points in the communicationnetwork. It can also be used to determine whether or not the physicallayer of the network is responsible for communication problems.

According to the invention, the network elements and/or the test devicesare coupled with the physical layer management system via a generic andstandardized first interface.

The interface is generic in that it is defined for a general class ofdevices and can be adapted to any object in the network. In this way,test devices which adhere to this interface may be managed by thephysical layer management system. That is, the physical layer managementsystem can control these test devices to instruct them to perform testsin a specified manner.

The invention has the advantage that any kind of logical managementlayer can have access to the information and test devices which aremanaged by the physical layer management system. The network elementsand/or the test devices must not be provided anymore by one specificcompany. As well, the provider of the physical layer management systemmay also be different. The generic and standardized first interfaceallows to use the products of different companies being coupledtogether.

The invention therefore allows to use the network elements and the testdevices of the communication network more efficiently.

In an embodiment of the invention, the logical management layer iscoupled with the physical layer management system via a generic andstandardized second interface. Again, the second interface allows tocouple together the products of different companies.

Further embodiments of the invention are provided in the other dependantclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The only FIGURE shows an embodiment of a network management systemaccording to the invention.

A communication network of e.g. a company, comprises a large number ofnetwork elements NEs. These network elements NEs are the activetransmission devices which are necessary to build up the communicationnetwork, e.g. multiplexers and other transmission equipment. The networkelements NEs are connected by passive transmission devices, e.g. fibers,cables, conduits.

Furthermore, a number of test devices TDs are provided for performingtests within the communication network. These tests may be carried outto evaluate the quality of the communication network. As well, the testsmay be carried out in cases of a failure within the communicationnetwork. As an example, a power monitoring device or a wavelength meteror a optical time domain reflectometer may be coupled as test devicesTDs to the communication network.

All network elements NEs and all test devices TDs of the communicationnetwork relate to the so-called physical network layer PNL. Thisphysical network layer PNL may furthermore pertain to data concerningother network objects such as cables, fibers, connections betweenelements, buildings, floors, rooms, racks, bays, and so on, for whichthe communication network is intended.

A physical layer management system PLMS is provided for managinginformation about the physical characteristics of the network elementsNEs and the test devices TDs within the communication network. Whereasthe physical layer management system PLMS is concerned with managing thetest devices TDs, e.g. triggering measurements, it is only concernedwith the network elements NEs in that it is aware of their presence andconfiguration. For example, the physical layer management system PLMSdoes not control the traffic or switching of these network elements NEs.Such responsibilities are left to a logical layer management system.

The physical layer management system PLMS is coupled with the networkelements NEs and the test devices TDs via a first interface IF1.

The first interface IF1 allows to couple the physical layer managementsystem PLMS with any kind of network element NE and/or with any kind oftest device TD. In particular, the first interface IF1 allows to couplethe physical layer management system PLMS with network elements NEsand/or test devices TDs of different companies. This means that thenetwork elements NEs and/or the test devices TDs must not be provided byone and the same company, and that the provider of these networkelements NEs and/or test devices TDs must not even be identical to theprovider of the physical layer management system PLMS.

The only requirement which the network elements NEs and the test devicesTDs should fulfil is to be compliant to a standard defining the hardwareand software connection of the first interface IF1. Then, the firstinterface IF1 is a generic and standardized interface.

The physical layer management system PLMS is coupled with a logicalmanagement layer LML via a second interface IF2.

The second interface IF2 allows e.g. a user to influence the physicallayer management system PLMS from the logical management layer LML. Forthat purpose, the second interface IF2 offers the possibility to receiveone or more commands in a standardized programming language which arethen converted into functions performed by the physical layer managementsystem PLMS. The commands may be input with equipment of the logicalmanagement layer LML, e.g. a computer system.

For performing the functions, it is possible that the physical layermanagement system PLMS comprises a database with all network elementsNEs, all test devices TDs, all further network objects of thecommunication network and all their connections. Insofar, the databasemay be seen as a copy or an image of the physical network layer PNL. Theinformation concerning the network elements, NEs, the test devices TDs,and so on may be received from the physical network layer PNL, but alsofrom the logical management layer LML.

The functions are then carried out by the physical layer managementsystem PLMS with the help of this database.

As well, it is possible that the functions are carried out by thephysical layer management system PLMS directly in the physical networklayer PNL. In this case, the physical layer management system PLMSdirectly influences the network elements NEs and/or test devices TDs.

The second interface IF2 may be connected to any kind of logical layermanagement system, i.e. a network management system which concernsitself with the logical management layer LML. Insofar, the secondinterface IF2 is a generic and standardized interface.

As a result, the physical layer management system PLMS with the firstand the second interface IF1, If2 allows to couple the network elementsNEs and/or the test devices TDs of the physical network layer PNL withthe logical management layer LML in a generic and standardized manner.Due to the first and second interfaces IF1, If2, it is possible to haveaccess to physical layer management functionality from within thelogical layer management system, e.g. access to test devices TDs andstrategies, access to physical inventory attributes, and the like.Conversely, it is possible for the physical layer management system PLMSto have access to information emanating from the logical managementsystem, e.g. currently available network elements NEs and the like.

Furthermore, the physical layer management system PLMS providesfunctions for the complete management of the physical network layer PNL.In particular, the physical layer management system PLMS providesfunctions to influence both, the network elements NEs and the testdevices TDs. This influence may be performed directly, i.e. on thenetwork elements NEs and/or the test devices TDs of the physical networklayer PNL, or indirectly, i.e. in the database comprising the image ofthe physical network layer PNL.

1. A method of managing a communication network, comprising: providingat least one of network elements and test devices; providing a physicallayer management system for managing physical attributes of thecommunication network; and coupling the at least one of the networkelements and the test devices with the physical layer management systemvia a generic and standardized first interface.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the first interface is defined for a general class of the atleast one of the network elements and test devices.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: providing a logical management layer whichviews the at least one of the network elements and test deviceslogically; and coupling the logical management layer with the physicallayer management system via a generic and standardized second interface.4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second interface is defined for ageneral class of the at least one of the network elements and testdevices.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second interface isoperable to receive one or more commands in a programming language. 6.The method of claim 3, comprising inputting commands from the logicalmanagement layer to the physical layer management system.
 7. The methodof claim 1, comprising influencing the at least one of the networkelements and the test devices with the physical layer management system.8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications network is anoptical network.
 9. A system for managing a communication networkcomprising: at least one of network elements and test devices; aphysical layer management system for managing physical attributes of thecommunication network, wherein the at least one of the network elementsand the test devices are coupled with the physical layer managementsystem via a generic and standardized first interface.
 10. The system ofclaim 9, further comprising a logical management layer which views theat least one of the network elements and test devices logically, whereinthe logical management layer is coupled with the physical layermanagement system via a generic and standardized second interface. 11.The system of claim 9, wherein the physical layer management systemcomprises a database, which is seen as a copy or an image of thephysical network layer.